"Do you apologise to football fans? The Premier League says 'sham' contracts, is this a 'sham' club?"
@RobHarris questions Man City chief executive Ferran Soriano after the club was found guilty of all charges related to Premier League's financial rules
https://t.co/3A2kYsOcCZ
Bradley Barcola Situation
• Moussa Sissoko has been trying to renew Bradley Barcola’s contract for the best part of 9-12 months. Talks have been difficult, and it reached a point where both parties agreed to put negotiations on hold so that Barcola and PSG could focus on important fixtures in April and May.
• Soon after the UEFA Champions League final, talks resumed and remain ongoing. The player reportedly told people close to him that he was disappointed not to start a number of important fixtures.
• PSG’s position is clear: renew or we will sell, as his contract expires in June 2028. Personally, I think that is a significant stance for the club to take.
• Barcola��s agent also represents Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué and maintains a good relationship with PSG. The club is also in serious talks regarding Yan Diomande and Maghnes Akliouche, which could further influence the situation surrounding Barcola.
Both Arsenal and Liverpool are interested, but I want to explain Arsenal’s side of the story.
• Andrea Berta made serious enquiries into Barcola’s situation last summer. At the time, Arsenal were informed that the player would stay for at least one more year. Since then, Berta has remained in constant contact with Sissoko and has made it clear that Barcola is of serious interest to Arsenal. He has also asked to be notified if PSG become open to a sale. Should Arsenal make an official approach towards PSG, there will be a further update.
• Arsenal also hold an interest in Morgan Rogers and one other player(sensitive info currently). More on that in due course.
• As always, Andrea Berta is willing to agree personal terms with multiple targets and make a move when the timing suits Arsenal.
Before I sign off, there is something worth noting. Berta is very happy for misinformation to circulate publicly. Berta & Co are busy behind the scenes, and many details remain unknown as Arsenal move silently.
Allow me to provide a free exclusive as an example of that which is unknown. Arsenal made standard checks on Nico Paz. Nico was reportedly left confused following a recent call with Mourinho, although another conversation may be scheduled. Arsenal have also made serious checks on Christos Tzolis, the Greek winger.
My point is that a great deal is happening behind the curtain. Embrace the silence and, as always, choose your sources of information carefully.
HandofArsenal
🔴⚪ Bayern Munich came to the Emirates with everything.
Full squad. Maximum hunger. A 100% record in ALL competitions this season — 18 games unbeaten before they stepped into our house. Their most complete team. Harry Kane, Kimmich, Olise, Gnabry.
All of it except Luiz Dias.
And Arteta said: Merino plays striker today. A Central midfielder as a number 9.
You people would have laughed. You WERE laughing cos you thought we would be embarrased like the PSG vs Bayern game last night..
3-1. Full time. Goodnight Munich. 🔴⚪
Timber with the header. Madueke off the bench to restore the lead. Martinelli rounding Neuer — MANUEL NEUER — and slotting into an open net to put the night to bed.
First and only defeat Bayern suffered in any competition all season. First. Defeat. All season. Until last night when they met PSG.
And they got it here. At the Emirates. From a team playing a CM as their forward.
Now let me ask you something.
People have been running their mouths all year about the best teams in Europe. PSG, Real Madrid. Bayern. Their attacking football. Their elite forwards. The way they destroy defenses.
But what's the point of all that attack if your defense is a revolving door and you are going to concede 5 goals?
Kane couldn't score. Not one. At the Emirates again — his old stomping ground in North London — and Arsenal's backline treated him like a stranger at the gate.
Saliba didn't even break a sweat.
This is where Arsenal separates from everyone. This is the edge Arteta has built that people refuse to give him credit for. You can have Mbappé. You can have Kane. You can have the most decorated attack in Europe.
If your defense leaks, it means nothing. Cos Arsenal will not give you easy goals AND we will punish every single mistake you make on the other end.
Madueke intercepted a stray pass in Bayern's half and it was 2-1 before Munich could breathe. Martinelli got a long ball, left Neuer on his backside, game over.
That's not luck. That's a team built to execute on MINIMUM chances with MAXIMUM efficiency.
Honestly? You don't hate Arsenal.
You hate that Arsenal refuse to oblige. You wanted the embarrassing scoreline. You wanted the "EPL team exposed in Europe" story. You wanted us to bow to the occasion.
Instead you got Declan Rice as Man of the Match, a DM/CM scoring or assisting from centre-forward, and three weeks of Bayern therapy sessions.
TWELVE games. still UNBEATEN in Europe. Perfect record. Let's go deal with Atletico Madrid today.
COYG. Always.
Arsenal have already ‘met with the entourage’ of Lille midfielder Amadou Onana, a player they have showed interested in for a long time. Onana also ‘arouses’ other London clubs in the Premier League. [@sachatavolieri] #afc